With commanding leads among blacks, women and younger voters, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama
has a 57 - 36 percent likely voter lead over Arizona Sen. John McCain, according to a Quinnipiac
University poll released today.

"In presidential politics, color New York State blue and throw away the crayons. Sen.
Barack Obama's overseas trip didn't help him in other states where Quinnipiac University polls,
but he moved up here," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling
Institute.

"Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain are about even among white voters. But - just as in the
Democratic primaries against Sen. Hillary Clinton - Obama's a big winner among black and
young voters. And now he gets the women 2 - 1," Carroll added.

Because of his age, 26 percent of New York State likely voters say they are less likely to
vote for McCain. Obama's race won't affect their vote, 89 percent say.

"New Yorkers insist they're not prejudiced against a black candidate, but one out of four
admit to being biased against an older candidate," Carroll said.

The economy is the biggest issue in their vote in November, 53 percent of voters say,
followed by 17 percent who list the war in Iraq and 11 percent who cite health care.

President Bush's Approval

New York State likely voters disapprove 75 - 21 percent of the job President George W.
Bush is doing and say 68 - 26 percent that going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do.

But voters split 48 - 48 percent on whether the U.S. should begin an immediate
withdrawal of troops from Iraq with an 18-month timetable to complete the withdrawal or
keeping troops in Iraq until the situation is stable, with no fixed date for full withdrawal.

"The Iraq war continues to divide us by party. Republicans think it was the right thing to
do; Democrats disagree. And, maybe because of Obama's new tone, there's a big shift in what
we should do in Iraq. New Yorkers split down the middle between an immediate troop
withdrawal and staying as long as needed," Carroll said.

From July 31 - August 4, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,353 New York State likely
voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the
nation as a public service and for research.

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were
Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you vote?
(If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?
This table includes "Leaners".

22. If elected, John McCain would be the first person to become President at age 72 -
Does that make you more likely to vote for McCain, less likely to vote for McCain, or
doesn't it make a difference?

30. Regardless of how you intend to vote, what would you prefer the next president
do about the war in Iraq?
A)Begin immediately a withdrawal of American troops, with a fixed date to have them
all out within 18 months. OR
B)Keep troops in Iraq until the situation is more stable, and then begin to withdraw
them, without a fixed date for full withdrawal.